For Wednesday it will be a mix of sun and cloud. Becoming cloudy in the afternoon with flurries. Risk of snow squalls in the afternoon. Blowing snow over exposed areas. Wind northwest 40 km/h gusting to 60 becoming southwest 40 gusting to 60 in the morning. High minus 6.

A snowfall warning remains in effect with a total of 20 cm expected today and tonight.

A low pressure system south of Nova Scotia will intensify as it tracks east of the Avalon Peninsula this evening. Snow has begun over Southeastern Newfoundland and will taper off overnight as the low moves away. Near 20 centimetres of total snow is expected over the Avalon Peninsula with lesser amounts further west.

In the wake of this system, strong cold westerly winds will generate snowsqualls for the west coast. These snowsqualls have the potential to create locally heavy snowfall amounts and near zero visibilities.

•••

(Earlier story)

Schools in the St. John’s metro region will close for the afternoon due to the impending snowstorm forecast to begin this afternoon.

There will be no lunch services provided today and there will be no afternoon session for kindergarten students.

According to Environment Canada snow is expected to begin this afternoon and a total of 15 centimetres are expected today and tonight.

Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud, becoming cloudy in the afternoon with flurries. Risk of snow squalls in the afternoon and evening. Blowing snow over exposed areas. Wind northwest 40 km/h gusting to 60 becoming southwest 40 gusting to 60 in the morning. High minus 6.

Other cancellations:

• Rising Tide Theatre’s performance of Revue 2012 scheduled for tonight at the Princess Sheila NaGeira Theatre in Carbonear is postponed due to weather. A rescheduled performance will take place on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m.

• The Centre for Nursing Studies' Practical Nursing Program Open House scheduled for tonight has been cancelled due to the impending inclement weather.

• The City of St. John’s would like to advise residents that due to the inclement weather, all City of St. John’s Recreation facilities will close today at 4:30 p.m. As a result all swimming lessons and other programs are cancelled.

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wavy

January 22, 2013 - 18:34

To all the critics and experts playing Monday-morning quarterback, second-guessing ESD's wisdom to close schools this afternoon, I offer you a brief sample of tweets regarding this afternoon's weather:
RCMP say roads from St. John's to Clarenville are extremely slippery, with whiteout conditions. Public advised to stay off the roads unless necessary.
RCMP say TCH westbound at Ocean Pond/Sparkes Farm remains closed to deal with a traffic accident. Crews are trying to clear the road of vehicles and debris. No word on injuries.
Just saw a snow plow struggling to get up McBride's Hill.
Sure, perfect weather for sending out bus loads of children in! Then again, maybe a walk home, dodging traffic in treacherous road conditions, is what younsters these days need. Get them away from the video games and what not. Enough said.

you are right wavy i don't like your smartass comments, but everyone including me who fought in war have a right to freedom of speech. if you don't like other comments and can't take the heat then get out of the kitchen.

I am a mother of two and am quite pleased when the school board makes the decision to close the schools. Why would I want to go to work and worry about my children trying to get home in bad weather on a school bus. I am happy that they are safe I am not too concerned about missing a day here and there. They work hard all year long and a little break does not hurt. If the schools didn't close then you would hear people complaining. It seems they are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't.

Jim

January 22, 2013 - 19:23

Your identity as a veteran makes your opinion on this topic more valuable? I'm very curious as to why you think this...?

wavy

January 22, 2013 - 11:12

Anyone else getting sick and tired of all these snarky, smart-ass comments from ex-pats who think, because they once resided in this province, they know everything there is to know about 21st century NL and us "newfies back home"? Comparing life in central NL in the 50's to that of modern life on the NE Avalon is like chaulk and cheese. You reek of ignorance and stupidity.

Still.....life comes to a screeching halt for 3 months a year. It is what it is, oil money or no. The big difference with the 1950's is that events are more expensive, and they get cancelled before the storm hits instead of after.

Bonnie

January 22, 2013 - 13:45

Ooooh someone hit a nerve. "All the snarky, smart-ass comments from ex-pats....." I'm seeing only a comment from one "ex-pat" in this string. Your ignorance shines through and you sound exactly like you're 'from town' making disparaging remarks about the 'bay boys'. Who are you to 'assume' that if a person doesn't live here now, they know nothing of how we live. Some of my family are living away but for the most part one or the other of them are home for a few weeks three times or more a year. If I wrote what you reek of, my comments wouldn't be posted. On another note, in keeping with the topic, I agree when there is the potential for severe inclement weather that the schools be closed. Years ago when many children walked to school, there wasn't the traffic/vehicles on the roads that we have now, meaning less danger to our children. I bet if you looked at the accidents/dangerous situations from years ago on a per capita basis, it wouldn't look much different than it is today. That being said, a high percentage of our children are obese or approaching obesity. It's not up to the schools to control this, it is the family responsibility. Children shouldn't be allowed to sit in front of TVs/computers etc., for hours at a time with no excerise. Parents hold the responsibility for the physical shape of their children (exception: medical reasons).

wavy

January 22, 2013 - 16:09

Wow. Speaking of striking a nerve! Disparaging remarks about the bay boys? WHAT!? You should get that inferiority complex checked out and, while you're at it, rent a jackhammer to help with that enormous chip on your shoulder. Thanks for the laugh though. To VETERAN- thank you for your service but spare us the bloated sense of entitlement. It's unbecoming. Some of us have valid points to make. The rest of you can't help but let your dimwittedness shine through. Pity.

C

January 22, 2013 - 10:51

To RJ & CRAIG & GOT TO BE TOUCH & SPOILED.....
Really! Must you be so ignorant....Most of the kids have to travel by bus each day to school some of which may take a half hour or more to get home..You would rather see injuries or possible fatalities instead of being proactive...And thats exactly what they are doing!! Your smart comments are uncalled for...And you would be the first ones all over the Media if something happened to a family member of yours...Most people enjoy the SNOW especially the KIDS, but what they dont enjoy is being on board a BUS or CAR when the driving conditions are terrible...And James well said! Instead of being so negative, why not say hats off to the ESD for looking out for the protective of the children!!!!

Errr...I detected a strong tone of sarcasm in Spoiled's post; not deserving of being lumped in with the rest.

got to be tough for the weather

January 22, 2013 - 10:35

ABSOLUTELY james, salt fish and oatmeal as well, and the good old potbelly stove in the one room classroom. after school the chores we had to do, but not today society. the kids are lazy and spend too much time with video games and thats the reason why obesity rates are high. tough means getting out there, not some field trip to the malls.

I really think you need to watch your words Mr. Tough for the Weather... Who do you think you are calling children lazy! How do you know what all the kids do! I dont know what part of the Island you are on, but for the most part driving home from work, thats all I ever see, are kids out having fun, enjoying the beautiful weather, and spending time with their friends. Those with a normal routine tend to do that...then head in for supper, homework, and a little r and r, and there is nothing wrong with that....Not to mention your ignorant comments about thats why children are obese, that is ridicoulous...Did you ever think that some little kids may have medical problems....Speaking from expereince I have 2 young girls both under the age of 10, and they spend all their time in the outdoors, and both love skidooing, rabbit catching, berry picking, fishing, as well as playing with their friends, watching TV and YES using their computers AND IPADS!! BUT they are both very healthy children who love the outdoors, eat well and YES PLAY ELECTRONICS AND YES DO CHORES! Both make their beds, clean their rooms, and help out around the house...I am not sure if you missed the CHANGE in TIMES since most went from the pot belly stove to ELECTRIC HEAT! But they can do a whole other list of chores..OH YES lets not forget the extra-curricular activities that most are in afterschool basketball, volleyball, dance, swimming, gymnastics, karate....Where is the INACTIVITY in any of that!!!! You MUST be having a BAD DAY!!

At RJ

January 22, 2013 - 10:25

RJ, for many people in the Avalon region that would be a two to three hour walk in freezing temperatures.
Would you walk from Paradise to Manuals every single day to go to work?
Yeah, thats what I though, this has NOTHING to do with obesity.

I walked 20 min to school and home everyday..there was no line of cars with a kiss n ride.Of course Extreme wind and whiteouts u don't want to out in that,but 10-20 cm snow would be just a help to build up sides for our daily road hockey after homework done.Sad to see all the roads empty of hockey games...now sit & play video games. :(

iwasthere

January 22, 2013 - 10:20

Calm down folks......any amount of snow mixed with blowing snow and winds is a receipe for disaster for anyone in the St. John's and surrounding areas. Every try to go up or down the many hills in St John's when the city hasn't plowed them or salted them? Let alone someone trying to get home up the shore! Everything is so open....creates many whiteouts! It is dangerous for sure!

Hey tough for weather, your comment is right on, but don't class us newfies on the west coast with the timid eastcoasters. Wow 15cm. If they got half the snow we get, the place would always be in 'state of emergency'. What a waste anyway. Rain will take it away in a few days. Send some more snow our way.

And yet the folks in St. John's seem to be the only ones in Newfoundland who are able to hold down steady jobs... I guess if I had nothing to do but to hop on my snowmobile and head to the post office for my welfare cheque, I wouldn't be bothered by a little snow storm either.

got to be tough for the weather

January 22, 2013 - 09:39

you newfies back home are getting spoiled. a little snow and you close the schools. back in my younger days growing up in the former town of windsor nf we walked to school, no buses.

Yes I remember there were no school closures when there was a storm and we had to walk too.

Spoiled

January 22, 2013 - 10:07

Yes, I think we should continue business as usual until there are at least a couple weather related fatalities. Surely people who are from a time when there was a higher percentage of highschool dropouts than graduates should be making the decisions that affect my childs safety.